Starmer said he had not known about the strength of the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein when he ‌appointed him to the role in December, 2024. Starmer ​has previously ‌said he will ‍release ⁠the vetting advice he was given when he selected Mandelson for the Washington role,

Newly released documents detailed connections between the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson, who was picked to be the U.S. envoy by the British prime minister, Keir Starmer.

Starmer felt "lied to" about Mandelson's deep ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealed in new files suggesting leaked documents and payments.